December
12, 2007 -
Follow the epic voyage of a re-created Viking warship as it
crosses the North Sea in one of the most perilous archaeology
experiments ever attempted. Havhingsten af Glendalough (Sea Stallion), a reconstructed 11th
century Viking warship, travels through rough seas from Denmark
to Dublin. The 90 minute documentary records the progress
of the intrepid crew sailing 1000 miles in an open boat.
Narrated by Michael Praed, 'Timewatch: Viking Voyage' airs on Saturday, 5
January 2008 at 8.10 pm on BBC2. (note the change in day and
time from previous years). To discover more on the ship
and this epic voyage, please visit the
'Timewatch' website.

A quick
heartfelt 'thank you'
goes to fan Sylvia for contacting the BBC and alerting us on the
starting dates. Sylvia says the second of the
series will be aired on the following evening at 9.00 pm, then
all the rest will follow at the Saturday time. We'll
remind you in January.

Fanfare buttons among new
items offered..

Fanfare merchandise now available

December 12, 2007 -
Fanfare is now offering a few new items for sale through Café
Press. Starting with buttons and mugs, the line is expected to
increase slowly.
Money earned through sales will help
support the website.

Café Press ships internationally and takes credit cards only.
It does not accept PayPal or money orders. (If you
don't have access to a credit card, please contact
Celeste for other options.) You'll
find the link to Café Press on the 'Merchandise' page.

What is the advantage of a
Michael Praed's Fanfare button, you ask? Imagine that you
are in a crowded theatre, surrounded by people. You know
that one or two fellow fans are attending because they said so
online. The problem is that you don't have a clue
what they look like! With this button pinned to your
lapel, you'll be able to find each other easily.

Buttons are $2.00 apiece (£1 or €1.39), or
10 for $1.50 (74p or €1.04)
per button if several of you want to go in together
and save money with a 10-pack. Prices in pounds and euros are
approximate only and may vary with your purchase.

Sherwood's Major Oak, the ancient tree
which may have sheltered Robin Hood.

Sherwood Forest lottery results

December 12, 2007 -
The votes are in and the results have been announced. Sherwood Forest was
one of four finalists in the vote to receive £50 million raised
by the national lottery.
The
People's 50 Million Lottery Giveaway announced today that the winner was
Sustrans' Connect2, the UK-wide project that aims to improve local travel
in 79 communities by creating new walking and cycling routes.

Although the lottery would have taken care of Sherwood Forest
for the foreseeable future, all hope is not lost for Robin's
famed forest. The Sherwood Forest Trust offers
sponsorship options at many different levels and is available to
worldwide fans of the legend. Check it out.

Michael attends WOS Awards nomination party

December 7, 2007 -
Whatsonstage, the website that provides coverage for the English
theatre world, recently announced nominations for their
Theatregoers' Choice Awards at their annual party.
Michael Praed was one of 500 guests attending the informal event.

A short video of the
party is located
online,
along with FAQs on the awards. Fan Rita glimpsed Michael
chatting in the background a couple places, so watch carefully. Additionally,
a photograph of Michael arriving at the festivities can be
spotted
here. His picture is number 35 and can be purchased
from Whatsonstage directly.

The Whatsonstage
Theatregoers' Choice Awards are voted upon by the public
annually. Nominations are announced at a party at the end
of the year. Voting takes place in UK theatres and on the
Whatsonstage website. Awards are announced in February at
another party. The awards have been growing in prestige in
recent years and are eagerly sought by the British theatrical
industry. Michael hasn't yet been nominated, but some of
his shows have been. Hopefully, his future will include
many such honors.

Sherwood's Major Oak, the ancient tree
which may have sheltered Robin Hood.

Don't forget Sherwood Forest

December 4, 2007 - Once covering 20 square miles, the mighty
Sherwood Forest of the internationally famous Robin Hood legend has dwindled
to a paltry three square miles. Some of the oldest surviving oaks in
the nation, such as the Major Oak, are reaching the end of
their lives, surrounded by unique forest habitat
thousands of years old. Within just a few decades,
however, there may be nothing left
of the forest that is connected forever with Robin of Sherwood.

Sherwood Forest is one of four finalists in the vote for
desperately needed funds raised by the national lottery.
If you are a fan of any incarnation of Robin Hood, go to the People's 50
Million Lottery Giveaway to register and vote for Sherwood Forest
by next Monday, 10th December.
Voting is restricted to citizens of the United Kingdom.

If you are not British and wish
to help, you can. The Sherwood Forest Trust offers
sponsorship options at different levels. One can even have trees
planted in the name of loved ones. This is not part of the
lottery vote and the vote won't affect where your donation goes.

"Nothing is forgotten. Nothing is ever forgotten."

So often 'Robin of Sherwood' fans say this to
one another. Don't let Sherwood itself be forgotten.

December 4, 2007 -
In late June this year, Vicci Varner, owner of Michael Praed
Chest Hair Moments, reported that hackers broke into the server. They
gutted and replaced
Loralee Thompson's tribute to Michael with a phishing site.
The dangerous element was immediately removed. Sections of
the massive CHM site were gradually added as it was given a
slight facelift. Last weekend, the chest hair
pictures which gave the site its name reappeared. Updated
news, new
calendars, videos, and art have been added
with the promise of more to come. The affiliated
fan fiction site has also been dusted off and is awaiting
fresh submissions. Now go take a look and get creative!

'Sleuth' scan
courtesy of the Simon MacCorkindale Fan Page

Handy new 'Sleuth' link

November 15, 2007 - For your convenience, a
link has been added to the top of the 'Club News page to our
'Sleuth' dossier. It is next to the DigiGuide link and will
remain there for the run of the production.

With the help of the
Simon MacCorkindale Fan Page, we have a list of confirmed
venues and dates for the 2008 Bill Kenwright Production of
'Sleuth' with Simon MacCorkindale and Michael Praed.

A recent addition is
a calendar which allows you to see where the play will be
showing on any particular date. If you discover you have a
specific date free, tracking down 'Sleuth' will be simple.

We'll be adding more
venues and dates as they are confirmed, so check back often.

October 28, 2007 - If you still haven't managed to read the
two-hour chat transcript with guest of honor Michael Praed on 28
October (why ever not!), you are probably unaware that Michael
will be continuing as a narrator for BBC's 'Timewatch' series,
celebrating its twenty-fifth birthday this year.

When 'Timewatch' was
launched in September of 1982, it was the only history program
on the schedule. The advent of cable and digital channels
devoted to history is a testimony to the impact and popularity
of 'Timewatch' through the years. The series uses archive material,
films, eyewitness testimony, expert interviews, re-enactments, and CGI to
present history to the viewer in a compelling way. It is
not afraid to take a controversial stance on topic.

Occasionally working as
co-producer with PBS, Discovery, The History Channel, the
Smithsonian Institute and Open University, it has won International Emmys and
documentary awards, along with several Bafta nominations.

The 2007 fall series was
tentatively scheduled to start in October, but it has been
shuffled back. Keep watch on BBC's 'Timewatch' website to
see when the series starts up again. It will be worth it.

October 28, 2007 - Michael Praed will be joining a six
month UK tour of 'Sleuth', starting in January of 2008.
Michael has the role of Milo Tindle to Simon MacCorkindale's Andrew Wyke. Simon
is a long-time cast member of 'Casualty' and seen in 'Falcon
Crest', 'Manimal', 'Death on the Nile', and 'I, Claudius'.
The production is produced by Bill Kenwright and directed by Joe
Harmston.

A 1972 film version
of the Anthony Shaffer play starred Laurence Olivier and Michael
Caine. Presently, a remake of the film with Michael Caine
and Jude Law in the lead roles is being released to various
markets around the world.

For information on tour venues and
dates, please check here. Please note that this list will
be growing until all dates are confirmed, so check back often.

By the way, I'd like to take this
opportunity to thank Shelli of the
Simon MacCorkindale Fan Page
for all the help she's given Fanfare. We'll be working
together during the run of the play to make sure fans get a
chance to see these two men sharing the spotlight.

'Dreamland' update

October 28, 2007 - Among topics discussed in chat was
Michael's musical 'Dreamland', which is still scheduled for a
premiere in London's West End in 2008. Although the
October workshop was ultimately postponed, the London entertainment
industry is still very much intrigued by the project.
Michael said there were stage stars interested in the
lead roles. He's hopeful the delay won't affect their
availability.

Michael described
the musical as "musical noir" (think of "film noir") set in Hollywood during the
1940's about Private Eyes, a femme fatale, and, of course, Bad
Guys. The music style is Big Band.

Fan support is strong and there
is already talk of people getting together to attend the show
when the curtain goes up next year.

Watch Fanfare for further
updates.

Michael is guest of honor in Fanfare chat

October 28, 2007 -
Every Sunday sees a gathering of Michael Praed fans chatting in
Fanfare's very own chat room. On October 28 we had a "special guest", namely Michael himself.
Michael answered questions asked by his fans and gave us
information on future projects (more on that later!). In
all, it was a delightful two hours with our favorite actor. If you'd like to read the chat transcript, there is a link to it on the top of the
'Encounters' page, or click
here.

Another name for Hindenburg docudrama

October 9, 2007 -
Another title change has hit Michael Praed's Hindenburg docudrama. 'Das Geheimnis der Hindenburg',
the German title, has been changed to 'Die Hindenburg: die ungeklärte Katastrophe'.
This name joins 'Hindenburg', 'Hindenburg: The Untold Story',
'Das Geheimnis der
Hindenburg', 'The Secret of the Hindenburg', and 'Hindenburg: Titanic of the
Skies'. Although it is somewhat amusing to watch the
revolving titles come and go, it causes problems when trying to
find the docudrama in television listings or in DVD stores.
Let's hope this is the last one.

September 12, 2007 - The
Hindenburg docudrama co-produced by the UK's Channel Four
International, Germany's Zusammenarbeit and USA's Smithsonian
Museum will be shown on Channel Four in the UK on Monday, 17
September at 21.00 (9 pm). Filmed in Poland last November, the
drama used archived film footage and photographs, interviews
with survivors, and hearing testimony.
Reenactments and CGI were interspersed with archival material to
illustrate the controversy surrounding the zeppelin's fiery end.
This gripping film relays the story of the Hindenburg through the enquiry that was set up immediately after the crash.
Was it accident or sabotage? Michael portrays survivor Nelson Morris. Directed by Sean Grundy, the same collaborators produced the
2006 Emmy-winning documentary "Hiroshima". Please check
the DigiGuide for more times.

September 9, 2007 - An hour-long documentary on the life of aviation legend Alex Henshaw,
'The Extraordinary Mr Spitfire', will be shown on The History Channel
in the UK on September 15th
and 16th. Please check the DigiGuide (above) for more times.

A half-hour version of the program was shown
on ITV
Central on September 9th.

Henshaw, who died in
February at 94, is probably best known for his WWII role as head of the Spitfire flight test program at Castle Bromwich. He tested roughly ten percent
of all Seafires and Spitfires, sometimes in perilous conditions,
detecting faults before the planes were delivered to the
frontline. But this was only part of Henshaw's flying career. He
was also an air race champion and set long distance solo records
which still stand 68 years later. This biography includes interviews with Henshaw himself, plus newly-filmed sequences with the actual aircraft in which he achieved many of his
competitive triumphs, a Percival Mew Gull.

'The Extraordinary Mr Spitfire' is produced and directed by Graeme Bowd.
Michael Praed is the narrator.

'Dreamland' workshop set

August
31, 2007 -
Cole Kitchenn Ltd
announced that a workshop for Michael Praed's musical
'Dreamland' is set for September 2007. However, there
are no venue details or specific dates given. It is quite
likely that this particular production will not to be open to the public.
Workshops are used to test the waters and smooth out any
problematic details before a show is launched. If all goes well,
the musical will be ready for London's West End patrons in 2008.

August
31, 2007
-
Oneword's 'Mills & Boon at the Weekend' radio program
will be airing 'Wife Against Her Will', an audiobook by
Sarah Craven narrated by Michael Praed, in half-hour
installments. The story begins on Saturday 8
September and will continue weekly for four weeks. Oneword is the digital satellite radio component of Channel 4 Radio. You can tune into Oneword Radio on DAB Radio by tuning to 'Oneword', Sky
by listening to channel 0127, Freeview on channel 717, and ntl
on channel 967.

Those within the UK can also listen to an audiostream in
various formats online.

Due to licensing laws, the online segments are
available to those in the UK only. Check the DigiGuide above or the
Oneword
site for times.

Havhingsten af Glendalough arrives in Dublin

August
14, 2007 -
Havhingsten af Glendalough (Sea Stallion), a re-constructed 11th
century Viking
warship, landed in Dublin today after six weeks at sea.
The trip was sponsored by BBC's 'Timewatch'. A program
documenting
the 1000 mile journey
through rough seas in an open boat will appear this fall. A preliminary blurb on
the BBC's website featured Michael Praed as the narrator.
To discover more on the ship and it's epic voyage, please visit
the
'Timewatch' website.

'The Unseen Beatles' coming to BBC America

August 16, 2007 -
The BBC 'Timewatch' episode 'Beatlemania', narrated
by Michael Praed earlier this year and available on
DVD in the
UK since January, will be released in the USA on October 2,
2007. The DVD will be re-named 'The Unseen Beatles' and
sold on the
BBC America website for $14.98. plus shipping.
No word as yet on whether or not the documentary will be
re-recorded with an "American voice". Keep your fingers
crossed! Update:
Both the UK and US versions use Michael Praed's narration.

'Das Geheimnis der Hindenburg' available on DVD

August 15, 2007 -
'Das Geheimnis der Hindenburg',
the joint German, UK and US docudrama featuring Michael Praed as
Hindenburg survivor Nelson
Morris, has been released on
Region 2 Pal DVD. Price of the 88 minute program is EUR
14,97. The soundtrack is in German with no subtitles. Please see
Amazon.de for further details.

Blake's 7 'Rebel' released on CD

July 4, 2007 - B7 Media's
'Blake's 7' audio podcast 'Rebel'
with Michael Praed as Soris has just been released.
Available on the B7 Media website for £9.95. Shipping is free
within the UK. The CD is also available outside the UK for £10.95,
but buyers are expected to pay for shipping. The
episode lasts approximately 70 minutes.

Michael's musical closer to production

June 26, 2007 -
Cole Kitchenn Ltd, one of London's leading independent stage
production and general management companies, recently announced
they were undertaking those duties for the new musical
'Dreamland', written by Michael Praed. Set for workshop in 2007 and production in
London's West End in 2008, Olivier Award winning director David
Gilmore will be directing. Casting duties will be
undertaken by Pippa Ailion. More details will follow as
they become available.

June 26, 2007 -
Oneword's 'Mills & Boon at the Weekend' radio program
will be airing 'The Italian Tycoon's Bride', an audiobook by
Helen Brooks narrated by Michael Praed, in half-hour
installments. The first installment begins Saturday 30
June and will continue weekly for eight weeks.
Oneword is the digital satellite radio component of Channel 4 Radio.

You can tune into Oneword Radio on DAB Radio by tuning to 'Oneword', Sky
by listening to channel 0127, Freeview on channel 717, and ntl
on channel 967. Those within the UK can also listen to an audiostream in
various formats online.

Due to licensing laws, the online segments are
available to those in the UK only. Check the DigiGuide or the
Oneword
site for times.

June 26, 2007 -
Vicci Varner, owner of Michael Praed
Chest Hair Moments,
reported the site may be down temporarily while it is being
rebuilt following an attack by vandals. Apparently phishers took over the site this weekend. They replaced
Loralee Thompson's tribute to Michael with content designed to
steal personal information by mimicking legitimate websites.
The phishing content has been removed and poses no danger. Vicci is working
with her hosting company to tighten security and the site will
reopen to "members only" as soon as possible.

We deplore the actions of these
contemptible filchers. We offer our sympathy and
encouragement to CHM,one of the most unique fan tributes on the web.
We urge you to support CHM as well.

'Hindenburg' Montage

Hindenburg docudrama shown again in Germany

June 15, 2007
- 'Das Geheimnis der Hindenburg', a docudrama
studying the controversy surrounding the explosion of the
zeppelin Hindenburg, will be shown again on German television
on Saturday, 16 June at 23.15 local time on Phoenix. The docudrama,
featuring Michael Praed as survivor Nelson Morris,
was co-produced by the UK's Channel Four International, Zusammenarbeit (ZDT, otherwise known as Second Channel -
German Television) and the USA's Smithsonian Museum.

June 2, 2007 -
B7 Media's 'Blake's 7' audio podcast 'Rebel' is underway on the
SciFi Channel UK website.
Several segments, including Michael as Soris, are already posted
and available to download. New chapters will be released
regularly, so keep checking SciFi UK for the latest adventure.

May 16, 2007
- In June 1953, Britain was still suffering from the privations imposed
by World War II. Despite the hardships, the country was
excited by a once-in-a-lifetime event. A young, beautiful
queen had just begun her reign and for the first time in
Britain's 1000 year
old history, the common Briton was able to see his monarch crowned,
thanks to that miraculous new tool, television. Narrated by Michael Praed,
'Timewatch: The People's Coronation' airs on Friday, 18 May 2007 at
9.00 pm on BBC2 (or check the DigiGuide listings). A short introductory
audio/video clip will briefly be available on the Timewatch website.

May 11, 2007 -
The long-awaited B7 Media's
'Blake's 7' audio podcast 'Rebel' started this week, courtesy of the
SciFi Channel UK. The first three chapters
of 36 segments are already posted. New chapters will be released every
Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, so keep checking SciFi UK for the latest
exciting action. Although he has yet to make an appearance, Michael is listed on
the cast page as a "special guest star" and his character's
name is Soris. Listen up!

May 5, 2007
- Thanks to the revolutionary work of forensic anthropologists
Dr Fabian Kanz and Professor Karl Grossschmidt, 'Timewatch' has been
able to establish a detailed picture of how gladiators may have lived,
fought and died 2000 years ago in Ephesus. A tombstone identified one
50 year-old body as gladiator trainer Euxenius.
His remains, and the skeletons of 68 other gladiators nearby,
reveal much about the diet, lifestyle, medical care and fighting
conditions of the legendary warriors. Narrated by Michael Praed, 'Timewatch:
Gladiator Graveyard' airs on Friday, 11 May 2007 at 9.00
pm on BBC2 (or check the DigiGuide listings above).

May 5, 2007
- For those Brits interested in checking out one of
Michael's CD's before buying, the Mills & Boon audiobook will be
present on Oneword's 'Mills & Boon at the Weekend' radio program
in half-hour installments. The first installment begins Sunday
6 May and will continue weekly until the audiobook is finished.
Oneword
is the digital satellite radio component of Channel 4 Radio.
You can tune into Oneword Radio on DAB Radio by tuning to 'Oneword', Sky
by listening to channel 0127, Freeview on channel 717, and ntl
on channel 967. Those within the UK can also listen to an audiostream in
various formats online. Due to licensing laws, the online segments are
available to those in the UK only. Check the Digiguide or the Oneword
site for times.

April 26, 2007
- Stories of the American frontier's three greatest figures are
brought to life in this BBC docudrama series exploring how the West was
really won. The lives of General Custer, Wyatt Earp, and
Billy the Kid are examined. The docudramas feature Toby Stephens,
Liam Cunningham, and David Leon. Michael Praed narrates. Check out the
Fanfare Merchandise
section for ordering information.

Note:This DVD is
available in Region 2 only,
and therefore may not be viewable outside Europe without a
multi-region DVD player.

April 25, 2007
- From 1942 the Vichy authorities willingly collaborated
with the Germans to round up Jews in France. By 1945 some 76,000
had been deported and sent to concentration camps. Told in their
own words, these are the moving stories of four children
secretly hidden from the Nazis. Directed by the
award-winning Jonathan Hacker and narrated by Michael Praed,
'Timewatch: The Hidden Children' airs on Friday, 27 April 2007
at 9.00 pm on BBC2. A short introductory audio/video clip will briefly be available on the
Timewatch website.

April 24, 2007
- Seventy years after a 34-second conflagration consumed
the zeppelin, 'Das Geheimnis der Hindenburg' ('The Secret of the Hindenburg')
was shown on German television. The docudrama was co-produced by the UK's Channel Four
International, Zusammenarbeit (ZDT,
otherwise known as
Second Channel - German Television) and the USA's Smithsonian
Museum. Filmed in Poland last November, the program used
archived film footage and photographs, interviews with
survivors, and hearing testimony to gather information. Reenactments and CGI
were interspersed with archival material to illustrate the controversy
surrounding the zeppelin's fiery end. Was it accident or
sabotage? The docudrama included Michael in the cast as
survivor Nelson Morris. For a short audiovideo excerpt of the
docudrama (all in German), go to the
Zusammenarbeit website. Mustachioed Michael is shown walking
through a door aboard the Hindenburg just before it explodes,
but don't blink or you'll miss him! Directed by Sean Grundy, the same collaborators produced the
2006 Emmy-winning documentary "Hiroshima". No word yet as
to whether the UK or USA television viewers will see this
documentary as well.

April 10, 2007
- Recent data from the island of Crete suggests that Europe's first great
civilization, the Minoans, was destroyed by a cataclysmic natural disaster. Was the
terrifying fate of the Minoans the source of Plato's story of Atlantis, the city that
disappeared beneath the waves? A team of archaeologists and scientists
comb Crete for conclusive evidence. Narrated by Michael Praed, 'Timewatch:
The Wave that Destroyed Atlantis' airs on Friday, 20 April 2007 at 9.00 pm on BBC2.
A short introductory audio/video clip will briefly be available on the
Timewatch website.

April 6, 2007
- In September 1970, a BOAC flight with over 20 school
children on board was hijacked by a Palestinian guerrilla group
- the first and last time a British commercial aircraft has ever
been hijacked. Is it right to negotiate with hijackers?
What else can be done? Narrated by Michael Praed,
'Timewatch: Hijack' airs on Friday, 6 April 2007 at 9.00 pm on
BBC2. A short introductory audio/video
clip will briefly be available on the Timewatch website.

March 29, 2007 -
Twenty five years ago, the Royal Navy landing ship Sir Galahad was sunk by the
Argentine air force while unloading British troops in the Falkland Islands.
Survivors and others affected by the tragedy tell how this act of war continues
to shape so many lives. Narrated by Michael Praed, 'Timewatch: Remember the Galahad'
airs on Monday, 2 April 2007 at 9.00 pm on BBC2 (or check the DigiGuide listings for
repeats). A short introductory audio/video clip will briefly be available on the
Timewatch website.

'Robin of Sherwood' DVDs released in North America

March 13, 2007 - The first
two series of 'Robin of Sherwood', starring Michael Praed in the title role,
is now available as one DVD box set in North America. Issued by
Acorn Media,
the collection contains the same extras as the Network and Koch
Media releases in the UK and Germany. Cost of the first four-volume boxed
DVD set (5 discs) is $59.99 USA/$72.99 CAN. It can be ordered directly
from Acorn Media or from other DVD vendors such as Amazon. The
third season (with Jason Connery) is scheduled to appear October
30, 2007.

Another complimentary review of 'Robin of Sherwood'

March 9, 2007 - In anticipation of the upcoming release
of the first DVD set starring Michael Praed, the Washington Post
ran a glowing assessment of 'Robin of Sherwood'. Reviewer
Curt Fields paid an exceptional tribute to the series that has
influenced all Robin Hood adaptations since it's debut.
Read this discerning review
here.

March 9, 2007 - The Minneapolis - St Paul Star Tribune ran an excellent
review of 'Robin of Sherwood' and interview with Michael Praed.
Not only does Randy Salas have a sympathetic view of the series, he also
elicits interesting comments by Michael. As an added bonus, there is
a hint as to what Michael is doing these days. Take a look
here.

March 9,
2007 - The last investigation of one of the American Wild West's
three greatest figures is shown tonight in the docudrama series 'The Wild
West'. Michael Praed narrates 'The Gunfight at the OK Corral'
on Friday, 9 March 2007 at 9.00pm on BBC Two.

It was the most famous shoot-out in history: the Gunfight at the
OK Corral. The legend of the righteous lawman -- Wyatt Earp --
was born after 30 seconds of lethal gunfire. Five men were
either dead or severely wounded. But as the smoke cleared, Earp wasn't
seen as a hero by half of the population of Tombstone. He was indicted
and put on trial for murder. Was Wyatt Earp guilty of slaughtering innocent
men? Historians take a look at contemporary accounts to find the truth.

'Blake's 7', B7 Media, and Equity logo copyrights
are held by those respective entities

March 3,
2007 - The legends of the American Wild West's three
greatest figures are reinvestigated in a new docudrama series
called 'The Wild West'. The latest installment will be
presented on the UK's BBC Two on Saturday 3 March 2007
at 9.00pm. Michael Praed narrates the docudrama on Billy the Kid,
starring David Leon as the young William H Bonney.

Three Wild West enthusiasts
examine Billy the Kid’s crimes to determine whether he deserves a posthumous
pardon by the present governor of New Mexico.

The last episode
in the series will focus on Wyatt Earp and the infamous shoot-out at
the OK Corral.

'Robin of Sherwood' DVD winners

February 24, 2007 -
Acorn Media
and Christine Alexander of
'Spirit of Sherwood'
announced the winners of the recent 'Robin of Sherwood' Trivia Contest.
The contest was held as a celebration and promotion of the North
American release of the first two seasons of 'Robin of Sherwood'.
Winners received free copies of the DVD set, courtesy of Acorn
Media and 'Spirit of Sherwood'.

February 18,
2007 - The stories of the American Wild West's three greatest figures
are told in a new docudrama series, 'The Wild West', for UK's BBC Two.
Michael Praed narrates the first in the series, examining Custer's
motives in his stand at the Battle of Little Big Horn, airs on Friday 23rd February 2007
at 3.00pm. Toby Stephens ('Jane Eyre', 'Die Another Day')
stars as General George Armstrong Custer.

On a sweltering day in 1876, Custer's 7th Cavalry attacked an Indian village.
Outnumbered 366 to 2,000, two-thirds of the Custer's men were killed.
Astonishingly, the latest historical research shows that Custer was close to pulling
off a brutal victory.

'The Wild West' calls upon the latest archaeology of the battle scene and
detailed examination of long-buried source material to provide a radical new picture
of the battle and how it unfolded. It creates a picture of a driven man – a victory
hunter – whose rivalries with his own officers would cost all of them their lives in
the culture clash of the Battle of Little Bighorn.

Future episodes will focus on Billy the Kid and Wyatt Earp. No word yet on the
narrator.

UK television and radio listings offered

February 12,
2007 - If you have ever missed a televised movie or
show featuring Michael Praed because you weren't aware it was on
the box, you will be pleased to hear of a new service offered on
Michael Praed's Fanfare.

Starting immediately,
fans in the UK will be able to click on a link located at the top of
'Club News' page and see a listing of programs featuring our favorite
actor. Just click the link reading
UK TV and Radio Listings
above. The information is courtesy of
MyDigiGuide.

Although this guide is strictly
for fans in the UK at the present time, plans are afoot to include listings for
other European and American channels eventually. Keep watching!

US 'Robin of Sherwood' DVD contest

February 2, 2007 -
Christine Alexander of 'Spirit of Sherwood' official fan club has been in touch
with Acorn Media, the new distributor of 'Robin of Sherwood' on DVD in North
America. The two are conducting a 'Robin of Sherwood' Trivia Contest as a
promotion of the release . The winners will receive the first two seasons of 'Robin
of Sherwood' on DVD for free. There will be five sets to give away. Winners
will be drawn at random from the correct entries received by the contest deadline.
Only residents of the US and Canada are eligible to enter. Entrants should email the
answers to Christine Alexander, along with their full name and mailing address, to
ChrisRHood@aol.com
by midnight, EST, February 23rd. And yes, Loxley fans, you do
need to answer the Huntingdon questions! Keep an eye on 'Spirit of Sherwood' for
any updates.

'Robin of Sherwood' Acorn Trivia Quiz

1. What is Marion doing when we first see her?
2. What is the name of Jennet's husband?
3. What do the Templars think Robin and the Merry Men stole?
4. Who did Alan-a-Dale work for before the Merry Men find him in Sherwood?
5. Who does Marion shoot in 'The King's Fool'?
6. What is being celebrated in 'Lord of the Trees'?
7. Who is the 'real' name of the spy known to the outlaws as Mark?
8. Who leaves the band in 'The Children of Israel'?
9. Who is Lilith working for in 'The Enchantment'?
10. How many Swords of Wayland are there?
11. What is the name of the village where the outlaws are ambushed in 'The Greatest
Enemy'?
12. What is the name of the sorcerer who works for Owen of Clun?
13. Where (on his body) is Robert injured in 'Power of Albion'?
14. What is the name of the castle where Isadora lives?
15. What is the name of the new sheriff in 'The Sheriff of Nottingham'?
16. Who are the two people who learn Lady Margaret's secret about Guy in
'The Cross of St. Ciricus'?
17. Who are the two members of the band who do not initially go to the village of
Cromm Cruac?
18. What is the real name of the leader of the fake Merry Men in 'The Betrayal'?
19. Who temporarily pardons the outlaws in 'The Pretender'?
20. There's an onscreen continuity episode in 'Adam Bell': what is it?
(Hint: it involves the location of a character.)
21. What is Rutterkin?22. In 'The Time of the Wolf', there is a visible difference
between Robin Hood and his double: what is it?

The man with friends around the world

January
30, 200707 - Ever wonder where Michael Praed's fans come from?
You might be surprised at the variety of people investigating Michael's official
websites. One of the general statistics collected for this site is the
nationality of our visitors' ISP. Between December 31, 2005 and December 31,
2006, fans from 98 countries around the world stopped by to investigate.
Amazing, isn't it? We are truly an international neighborhood. If you are
wondering where your country stands in the rankings, here they are in order.
And thank you to each and every one of you.

January 29, 2007 - In
January 1915, a German Zeppelin airship dropped bombs on the Norfolk town of Great
Yarmouth. It was the start of the world's first strategic bombing campaign, initiating
two-and-a-half years of terror that claimed the lives of 1,500 people. Timewatch examines
the forgotten Blitz, revealing the little-known battle for supremacy in the skies above
Britain. Narrated by Michael Praed, 'Timewatch: Zeppelin: The First Blitz' airs on 2
February 2007 at 9.00 pm on BBC2. A short introductory audio/video clip will
briefly be available on the
Timewatch website, along with other interesting clips relating to the program.

January 22, 2007 -
A recent studio report by UK-based independent media production company
B7 Media gave a fascinating glimpse of the recording of the 'Blake's 7' podcasts.
To read the 8-day studio report, please click
here or type
http://www.b7media.com/07january_feature_set1.html into your browser's address
bar.

Unfortunately,
Michael Praed wasn't mentioned, nor was his role.

As of yet, there is no date
given for the first podcast. Stay tuned for further updates, or watch the
B7 Media website. A newsletter is offered.

Dutch 'RoS' DVDs released

January 22, 2007 - The
Netherlands now has 'Robin of Sherwood' DVDs offered in English with Dutch subtitles.
Just
Entertainment is presently taking orders for Series 1. Series 2 and 3 will
be offered later this year. Either click the link
here, or type
http://www.justwebshop.nl/product_info.php?cPath=3&products_id=221
into the address bar of your browser. The link will also
be available on the Fanfare Merchandise page.

'Timewatch: Killer Cloud' on 19 January

January 19, 2007
- In 1783, thousands of Britons died in a terrible environmental disaster,
choking on poisonous gases from a huge volcanic eruption in Iceland. The ensuing
winter was one of the worst on record and claimed yet more lives. The tragedy of
Britain's forgotten disaster has remained a mystery for the past 200 years.
'Timewatch' goes in search of the evidence. Narrated by Michael Praed, 'Timewatch:
Killer Cloud' airs on 19 January 2007 at 9.00 pm on BBC2. Watch the
Timewatch website for updates.

Michael out of 'Follies'

January 14, 2007 -
The Stephen Sondheim Society announced recently that due to work commitments,
Michael Praed has had to withdraw from the charity gala of Sondheim's Follies
in Concert in February 2007. The role of Buddy will now be sung by
Tim Flavin, winner of Laurence Olivier awards for the Gershwin musical
'Crazy for You' and for Rogers and Hart's 'On Your Toes'.
The 'Follies in Concert' benefit is to raise money for the Starlight
Children's Foundation and Kingston Hospital Cancer Unit Appeal.

'Timewatch: Beatlemania' on 12 January

January 6, 2007
- Forty years ago, the Beatles' performances revolutionized the music
industry and inadvertently invented Youth Culture. 'Timewatch' looks at
these aspects and investigates why, at the height of their fame, they
disappeared from the stage. Narrated by Michael Praed, 'Timewatch:
Beatlemania' airs on 12 January 2007 at 9.00 pm on BBC2. Watch the
Timewatch website for updates and a short
audio/video clip.

January 3, 2007
- A dramatization of the final hours of the only time two submarines dueled to
the death will air Friday, 5 January 2007 at 9 pm on BBC2. The HMS Venturer
hunted down and sank the U-Boat U864, a sub on a deadly secret mission, in
February of 1945. A short audio/video clip introducing 'Timewatch: The Hunt
for U864', narrated by Michael Praed, will briefly be available on the
Timewatch website.